Medicare Open Enrollment Scams: What to Watch For in 2026

Medicare’s fall Open Enrollment is when people review their coverage, and it is also one of the busiest times of year for health insurance scams. The FTC warned in late September 2026 that these scams happen year-round but pick up during Open Enrollment for Medicare and the Marketplace.

The key fact to remember: Medicare will never call you to sell you anything, and you never need to give your Medicare number to a stranger who contacts you to “help” you choose a plan. For a broader overview, see our guide to Medicare and health insurance scams.

What is Medicare Open Enrollment, and why do scammers target it?

Medicare Open Enrollment is the yearly window, October 15 to December 7, when you can change your Medicare coverage. According to Medicare.gov, during this period you can:

• Join, drop or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan, with or without drug coverage.
• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan, or back.
• Join, drop or switch a Medicare drug plan if you have Original Medicare.

Your new coverage starts January 1, and a plan must get your request to join by December 7.

Scammers like this season because people expect to hear about plans. A call about “your new options” doesn’t seem strange in October, so it’s easier to slip a fake offer in among the real mail and ads. The goal is usually your Medicare number, which criminals can use to bill Medicare for equipment, tests or services you never received, or to sign you up for a plan that isn’t real insurance.

What do Open Enrollment scam calls sound like?

They are friendly, official-sounding and in a hurry. Common lines include:

• “Your plan is ending, and you need to choose a new one today.”
• “You qualify for an upgrade with more benefits at no extra cost.”
• “We’re sending out new Medicare cards. I just need to confirm your number.”
• “Sign up now and you’ll get a free gift card or free medical equipment.”

EXAMPLE — SCAM

Today 10:42 AM●●● ▮

Incoming call (888) 555-0162

Caller: Hi, I’m calling from the Medicare Benefits Center about your 2027 coverage. Our records show you qualify for an upgraded plan with dental, vision and a $200 grocery card.

Caller: I can lock it in for you right now. I just need you to confirm your Medicare number and date of birth. This enrollment slot closes at the end of the day.

Every part of that call is a warning sign: an unexpected call about plans, a gift for signing up, a request for your Medicare number and a deadline. Medicare.gov’s advice is not to accept money or gifts in exchange for medical care and not to join a plan over the phone unless you made the call.

Scammers don’t only call. The FTC says dishonest businesses also pay to appear at the top of search results, using web addresses that look like Medicare.gov or HealthCare.gov and official-looking logos. If you use the phone number or link in one of those ads, you might end up paying for a plan that isn’t health insurance, or exposing yourself to medical identity theft.

Is it a scam if someone says your Medicare card needs to be replaced?

Treat it as one. A call or message saying you need a new card, or that your card is expiring, is an easy way for a scammer to ask you to “confirm” your Medicare number. Medicare.gov says not to share your Medicare number or other personal information with anyone who contacts you by phone, email or in person unless you contacted them first and gave them permission.

If someone calls asking for your information or money, or threatens to cancel your benefits, Medicare.gov says to hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) yourself. If you have questions about your card, ask Medicare directly using that number.

How can you compare plans safely?

You can make every Open Enrollment decision without ever answering a sales call:

1. Go straight to Medicare.gov. The FTC says to type the name of the website yourself, scroll past paid ads marked “Ad” or “Sponsored,” and make sure the address ends in .gov.
2. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
3. Get free one-on-one help from your SHIP. State Health Insurance Assistance Programs help people with Medicare choose a plan, review coverage, understand costs, apply for Extra Help and file complaints or appeals, at no charge. You can find your local SHIP through Medicare.gov.
4. Talk to your Senior Medicare Patrol if something feels off. The FTC lists the number as 1-877-808-2468.
5. Take your time. Open Enrollment lasts more than seven weeks. Anyone who says you must decide on the spot is pressuring you.

For Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans, the FTC says to use HealthCare.gov or call 800-318-2596. Marketplace Open Enrollment is a separate window: HealthCare.gov says it starts November 1 and ends January 15, and you must enroll by December 15 for coverage that starts January 1. If you or a family member buy coverage there, read our guide to HealthCare.gov and Marketplace scams.

What should you do if you gave out your Medicare number?

Don’t panic. Act quickly:

• Call 1-800-MEDICARE and explain what happened. Our guide on how to protect your Medicare number explains what criminals do with it.
• Check your Medicare statements every month for equipment, tests or services you didn’t get. Medicare.gov suggests comparing the dates and services with your own calendar, and a secure Medicare.gov account lets you see Original Medicare claims as soon as they’re processed.
• Report it to the HHS Office of Inspector General at oig.hhs.gov or 1-800-HHS-TIPS. For Medicare Advantage or drug plans, you can also call the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor at 1-877-7SAFERX (1-877-772-3379).
• If someone used your information to get care or services, report medical identity theft at IdentityTheft.gov.
• If you paid anything, call your bank or card company right away and follow our first-hour checklist after a scam.

Already got one of these calls? Our alert on what to do in the first five minutes of a “Medicare” call has a minute-by-minute plan, and our guide to reporting a scam call shows where else to report it.